Reversing apparatus for regenerative furnaces



se tfs, 1925. 1,553,242

. G. H. ISLEY REVERSING APPARATUS FOR REGENERATIVE FURNACES Filed April 8, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,553,242 G. H. ISLEY REVERSING APPARATUS FOR REGENERATIVE FURNACES Filed April 8, 1920 2 Signs-Sheet 2 Sept. 8. 1925.

Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ISLE-YOF WORCESTER, laIASSASEIUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO MORGAN'CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OI WORCEST R, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION .OF

MASSACHUSETTS.

REVERSING APIPA'RATUS FOR- REGENERATIVE FURNACES.

Application filed April 8,

T 0 all er 2.0227. it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. IsLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Reversing Apparatus for Regenerative Furnaces, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specilica tion.

The present invention relates to the class of devices ordinarily knova n as reversing valves, that are used in connection with regenerative furnaces for the purpose of changing the direction of the flow of the burning gases in the furnace.

The present invention partakes in part of the characteristics set forth and described in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,- 408,946, dated March 7, 1922, and also in my copending application Serial No. 268, 391, filed December 26, 1918, both covering improvements in reversing apparatus for regenerative furnaces. In each of the construct-ions therein described there is utilized, in connection with certain of the flue terminals of the furnace, a swinging gravity closing cover, which is adapted to be opened automatically when the flue with which it is associated is about to be connected to some other flue of the system. The present invention, while partaking generally of the nature of the inventions set forth and described in the aforesaid copending applica tions, in that it employs one or more: of such gravity closing covers, is distinguished radically from said prior inventions in respect to the construction and operation of the several flue connecting elements of the apparatus. In common with the mechanism set forth and described in the last named c0- pending application, the present invention contemplates the provision of duplicate reversing instrumentalities, each functioning simultaneously with respect to both air and but tie operation of these reversing '3.- strumentalities, as well as their general construction, differs radically from the reversing instrumentalities of said last named copending application. These differences fully set forth in the following description and pointed out in the annexed claims, ref- 'ings, in which 1920. Serial No. 372,205.

erence being had to the accompanying draw- .Figure l is a. dia rammatic plan view of a regenerative furnace, .equi in ied with re versing apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, illustrating the construction of the reversing apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan View similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification of the invention.

Figure 4 is av section taken on the lin 4-l, Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5, Fig 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of still another modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, illustrating a modification of the raising and lowering devices shown in Fig. 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first tothe construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the furnace 1 of the well known regenerative type is equipped at each end with the usual gas regenerator passages 2 and 2, and the usual air regen-- crater passages 3 and 3. The flues 2, 3, and 2, .3, pass upwardly through the brickwork and terminate at the ground level; adjacent the terminal of each gas regenera-tor flue is disposed an alined terminal 4 or i of a gas supply flue, leading from a source of gas supply, not shown. Between each gas and air regenerator flue terminal is disposed an alined flue terminal 5 or 5, connecting with a main stack flue 6. Four alined and symmetrically arranged flue terminals are terminals 2, 3, t and 5, and said extensions are completely surrounded by the body of water contained within said casting. For cooperation with the four extensions 8, 8, of each set of furnace flues, the apparatus provides a movable reversing device 9, the latter having a sealing skirt adapted to surround and inclose the entire set of extensions 8, when in lowered position, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2. \Vhen either device 9 is in raised position, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2, the skirt 10 still maintains water sea-led contact with the water of casting 7, but the several flue terminals are uncovered so as to establish communication between them, as herein after described.

Each device 9 in that part thereof which is superposed above the flue terminals 2 and l, or 2 and 1, provides a hood or raised portion 11, this hood portion 11 being so disposed that when the device 9 is in lowered position, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 2, the flue terminals 2 and a are jointly covered and inclosed by said portion 11 which forms a connection between them. The extension 8 of each gas flue terminal 4-. or 1 is provided with the swinging cover 12 or 12 suitably pivoted to the pan 7, each cover 12 or 12 having a projecting ear 13 which is adapted to be engaged by a lug 14, extending inwardly from the hood portion 11 directly above. When a device 9 is being moved into lowered position, the contact of lug 14 with ear 13 opens the cover 12, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2. On the other hand, the initial lifting movement of a device 9 releases the lug 14 from the ear 13, and allows the cover 12 to close by gravity, thus shutting off and completely sealing the terminal of the gas supply flue when the device 9 is in raised position.

In the position of the parts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the direction of gases through the furnace is from left to right, as indicated by the arrows. The gas from the supply flue 4t enters beneath the hood portion 11 of left hand reversing device 9 and then passes into the gas regencrator fine 2, traveling through the furnace toward the right. Air enters the flue 3 through an opening 15 in the left hand device 9, this opening 15 being controlled by a swinging damper 16 which is held open by a chain 17, or the like, adjustably secured to some fixed point.

()bviously, when the device 9 is raised,

the cover or damper 16 will close by gravity. The left hand stack flue terminal 5 is completely isolated from the entering gas and air by the depending surrounding flange 18, which forms a seal with the water in pan 7.

The products of combustion leave the furnace by the right hand side, that is, through the flue terminals 3 and 2 that are uncovered, owing to the raising of the right hand reversing device 9. As shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2, the supply of gas through the flue 4 is completely shut off, due to the closure by gravity of the swinging cover 12 associated with the extension 8 of this fine terminal. Consequently, all the burned gases, leaving by way of regenerator fiu-es 2 and 3 pass into the space under the device 9 and make exit therefrom through the stack connection flue 5.

\When it is desired to reverse the course of burning gases through the furnace, the left hand device 9 is raised, and the right hand device 9 is simultaneously lowered.

For this purpose the devices 9, 9, may

readily be connected to windlasses or other suitable raising and lowering devices; for example, if desired, both devices 9, 9 may be connected to a single Windlass or other rotatable device 19, by means of cables 20 or the like, passing over guide pulleys 21, 21. When rotated in one direction the Windlass 19 is adapted to raise one device 9 and lower the other, and when rotated in the opposite direction, to lower the first device simultaneously with the elevation of the second device. Obviously, any other mechanism for simultaneously raising one device 9 and lowering the other, may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The elevation of the left hand device 9, and the simultaneous lowering of the right hand device 9 effects the reversal of the furnace 1 in the following manner: The lowering of the right hand device 9 brings the projection 14; into contact with the car 13 of swinging cover 12, thereby opening the terminal of fine i to the interior of the hooded portion 11. At the same time, the flange 18 completely seals off and isolates the stack flue connection 5. Likewise, the damper 16 is opened to the air, so that air may enter the terminal of flue 3. 'In this way the air and gas enter the furnace at the right hand side, by way of the gas flue regenerator passage 2, and the air flue regenerator passage 3. The elevation of left hand reversing device 9, Fig. 2, permits the instant closure of the swinging cover 12, thus preventing any wastage of gas from the supply passage i. At the same time the air damper 16 also closes by gravity, and the entire volume of burned gaseous products leaving the furnace. by way of regenerator passages 2 and 3 is thus directed beneath the space inclosed by the left hand device 9 and its water sealing skirt 10, making exit from this space by means of the line 5 that connects with he stack, this flue being exposed because of the elevation out of operative relation thereto of the flange 18. 1

elf)

'is adapted to be isolated completely The modification of the invention as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, embodies precisely the same construction and principle of operation as heretofore disclosed, with the eX- ception that the furnace flue terminals instead of being alined, as in Figs. 1 and 2, are disposed in rectangular arrangement. That is to say, the furnace 1 is equipped with gas regenerator flues 22, 22', and air regenerator lines 23, 23. The gas regenerator flues 22, 22 are disposed adjacent to and in alinement with the terminals of gas supply passages 24, 24, the latter being provided at their extensions 8, 8, as in the preceding case, with gravity swinging covers 12, 12'. Out of alinement with the aforesaid flue terminals, but in a parallel row therewith, the air regenerator flue terminals 23 are lined up with .stack'flue terminals 25, 25, as shown in Fig. 3. I

Cooperating with the set-of flues 22, 23, 24, 25 is a reversing device 26, of the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and a duplicate reversing device 26 isemployed in connection with the set of flues 22, 23, 2 1', 25, asshown at the right hand side of 3. These reversing devices 26, 26 are essentially the same in construction as the devices 9, 9, Fig. 2, except for the fact that each hood portion, designated 27 in Figs. 4 and 5, runs transversely of said device, instead of longitudinally. As before, each stack flue terminal 25.or 25, as the case may be,

by a depending flange 28 of its associated reversing device, and also as before the air is adapted to enter through a swinging gravity closing damper 29, which is held in open position, when the reversing device is lowered, by means of a chain or cord 30. In the posi tion of the parts here illustrated, the passage of gases is from left to right through the furnace, the left hand device 26 being Iowered, so as to hold the swinging cover 12 in open position, and the right hand device 26' being raised, whereby the associated cover 12, Fig. 3, is closed, so as to shut off and seal the gas supply flue 24. The reversal of the furnace is accomplished by raising the right hand device 26 and lowering the left hand device 26, the same as in the form heretofore described.

Another modification of the reversing structure is shown in Fig. 6, where the same arrangement of flue terminals as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is adopted. 'In the illustrated construction, a relatively shallow water seal pan 31 is superposed over the flue terminals 2, 3, i and 5, said pan having interior hollow extensions 32 in register with said terminals. A. stationary inclosing structure 33 projects upwardly from the pan 31, and at its top provides an inner depending flange 34 adapted to form a water seal with the water in a trough 35,

surrounding the vertically movable reversing member 36. The latter issimilar in construction to the members 9, 9, of Figs. 1 and 2, and works within the inclosing structure 33. A depending skirt 37 on the under side of member 36 is adapted to form a seal with the water in pan 31, and is also utilized to control the swinging cover 12 of gas sup ply fine 4. When the member 36 is raised, the seal is re-established by the immerson of flange 3 1 in trough 35.

When separate windlasses or raising and lowering devices are used, as shown in Fig. 7, for the movement of the reversing devices 9, 9, it is to be noted that either device 9, when in raised position, and serving as a passage for the exhaust gases to the stack, is adapted to be lowered more or less, with out entirely shutting off the passage. Consequently said device at each end of the fur nace, in addition to its function as a reversing instrumentality, serves also as a stack damper, and makes unnecessary the provision of the usual stack damper. I

In this connection, it is to be noted that the above described throttling of exhaust gases, at that end of the furnace from which they may be discharged, is without efi'ect upon the position of the reversing mechanism at the inlet end of the furnace, said reversing mechanism at said inlet end being necessarily maintained in the position illustrated at the left hand side of Fig. 2.

I claim,

1. The combination with the air, gas, re.- generator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device for both air and gas associated with each-set of fines and adapted in all positions to seal and surround the terminals of all the flues of said set.

2. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device for both air and gas at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals.

3. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals, and means operable by the elevation of said reversing device for closing the gas supply flue terminal.

at. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals, and means operable by the elevation of said reversing device for preventing the passage of air therethrough.

5. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said fiue terminals, and means operable by the elevation of said reversing-device for connecting the stack and rcgenerator flue terminals.

6. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals, and means operable by the lowering of said reversing device for opening the gas supply flue terminal.

7. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals, and means operable by the lowering of said reversing device for connecting the furnace with the gas supply.

8. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals, and means operable by the lowering of said reversing device for isolating the stack flue terminal'from the other flue terminals of the set.

9. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack lines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device at each end of the furnace in constant sealing relation to all of said flue terminals, and means operable by the lowering of said reversing device for procuring the passage of air therethrough to the furnace.

10. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack fines for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device associated with each set of fines and adapted for movement to regulate the furnace draft.

11. The combination with the air, gas, regenerator and stack flue-s for each end of a regenerative furnace, of a reversing device associated with each set of flues and providing, in one position a passage from the furnace to the stack, and means for adjusting said reversing device to vary the size of said passage.

Dated this twenty-third day of March,

GEORGE H. IS-LEY. 

